Red Cross meets need for disaster and emergency services

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jun 08, 2007

The American Red Cross Onondaga-Oswego Chapter is the third oldest chapter in the $5.8 billion American National Red Cross system. While each chapter has its own executive board and administrative officials, a Congressional Charter binds the organizations together as a single 501(c)(3) corporation.

Locally, the Onondaga-Oswego Chapter garners $2.2 million in annual revenue that it uses for programs such as disaster preparedness and assistance, Armed Forces emergency services, health and safety training, care and share energy assistance, and volunteer services.

One of the most visible activities undertaken by the Red Cross, the biomedicalblood services division, is operated at the national level, but utilizes local staff support. A recent agency evaluation found that with existing material and volunteer resources, the Onondaga-Oswego Chapter could respond to a 150-person disaster. This is an increase of 50 people since the last evaluation in 2004. If a larger disaster were to occur, it would have to draw upon the mutual aid of other chapters.

The Onondaga-Oswego Chapter operates from a 10,600-square-foot headquarters located at 220 Herald Place. This contains administrative offices for 18 full-time staff members, training facilities, and storage for program supplies. According to Richard Blansett, director of public support, the Syracuse and Oswego communitieshave provided a strong cadre of 400 active volunteers, of which 200 provide disaster response. In 2005-2006 these volunteers provided assistance to 269 families affected by disasters such as residential fires or flooding.

A vital, yet lesser-known activity is the Armed Forces emergency services. Last year, 1,000 families received emergency communications, financial assistance, or in-formation through this program. One component, emergency communication, shares time-sensitive and personal information between soldiers and their families when a crisis happens at home. This service has seen an increase in use since 2002, and currently transmits 500 local messages a year.

Health and safety training comprise another vital service operated by the Red Cross. According to Blansett, 20,000 individuals are trained a year in CPR, first aid, AED, aquatic safety, and even babysitting. Workplace training, which allows companies to become OSHA-compliant, can be conducted in-house or through an authorized-provider program.

According to Blansett, on July 1, the Onondaga-Oswego Chapter will implement a new system of collaboration with chapters in Cayuga, Madison-Oneida, Mohawk Valley, Northern New York, Rome Area, and Utica. This initiative, known as Arc-One, will streamline fundraising, contain administrative costs, grow service delivery, and increase visibility, Blansett says.